SAM Architecture completes stepped Yvonne Kerzrého School in Nanterre

SAM Architecture has completed the Yvonne Kerzrého School Complex in Nanterre, France, a 4,856-square-metre facility designed as a "village at the child's scale." Located in Paris's Les Groues district, the building houses a nursery, primary school, after-school care centre, media library, and cafeteria. The stepped form creates cascading terraces and courtyards on every level, maximizing outdoor space in a dense urban environment. A central atrium topped by a butterfly-shaped roof brings in daylight and natural ventilation, featuring a broad staircase with stepped seating for assemblies. Exposed timber and concrete are used strategically for durability and carbon reduction. The rooftop includes photovoltaic canopies and an open-air theatre. SAM Architecture, founded in 2007 by Stefan Matthys and Boris Schneider, is now led by Schneider and Lucas Eydoux.